Hey all!

As I type this for my bi-annual front-page update (that’s every July and January for those of you keeping track at home), I find myself looking back at a pretty incredible first half of 2019 and into closing out the year — and moving into 2020 — with a solid schedule of comic, TPB, and OGN releases on the horizon as well as a strong ( but hopefully — at least by my standards — somewhat dialed-back) convention schedule.

Due to my increased workload, I’ve vowed to do no more than 20 total appearances in 2020. Will I be able to honor this self-made pact with myself, especially as I start to tour more from coast to coast? (2019 will have seen me as a guest at shows spreading across the map from San Diego Comic Con to New York Comic Con!) I’d like to think I can keep my word to myself, as 20 in-person special guest appearances is still a lot of shows considering my pretty hefty creator-owned comics output… but time, obviously, will be the final judge and determinant on these things.

For those of you who are new here… welcome! Thanks for surfing by! The “Signings and Appearances” tab is always updated as soon as new convention and/or in-store signing appearances become official, and my “Bibliography” page chronologically lists all my work to date and is also now updated with several new releases since January. Like I said, I stay busy.

I also send out a Monthly Newsletter that a lot of people tell me is quite good, and you can subscribe to it using the form to the right. I send it once a month, the first week of every month with the motto “All killer, no filler.” Consider signing up if you’d like monthly, infotaining (not a typo) correspondence — and a way to get back in touch with me, too!

Regarding the “Store” tab… the best thing to do if you want a book you can’t get through a local comic shop or my Amazon page is to use the “Contact” tab and e-mail me directly. If I have what you’re looking for, I promise you I’ll do the best to get you a copy at the market price — signed, even, if you’d like!

In regards to “big picture” news, HOPE #1 (of 6) by me and co-creator K. Lynn Smith was released through Source Point Press as their debut entry into Free Comic Book Day in May 2019, and the rest of the series will begin going monthly starting July 31st. Here’s a peek at the cover of Issue #3, one of my favorites of the four (of six) issues that have been solicited so far…

Speaking of Source Point Press, in a move that shocked even me, the publisher has since “doubled-down on Dirk,” making me the (half-)face of the company by announcing that THE ADVENTURES OF CTHULHU JR. & DASTARDLY DIRK #1 (of 5) with co-creator Scoot McMahon and colorist Sean Burress is going to be their Halloween ComicFest book this year (Saturday, October 26th), with the rest of the series being released through the publisher in 2020.

In the meantime, the LEGEND OF THE SHADERS one-shot by me, Youtube sensation The Harp Twins, and K. Lynn Smith will be available through all four (yes, four) of us in the coming months at all our respective in-person appearances…

And HAUNTED HIGH-ONS: “The Darkness Rises” by me, hip-hop bad-boys Twiztid, and the art tandem of Marianna Pescosta and Alessandro de Fornasari will also be wrapping-up its five-issue story-arc in the epic over-sized Issue #5 (of 5) from Source Point Press. This issue will also prominently feature Majik Ninja Entertainment artists Alla Xul Elu (A.X.E.), Blaze Ya’ Dead Homie, and Drayven as well as in-story art by Seth Damoose (TALES OF MR. RHEE) and Kelly Williams (THE DARK).

I’m spoiled with an abundance of riches to be working with such great artists of all calibers on so many great books, friends.

There are other planned releases before the end of the year, of course. For starters, October is TALES OF MR. RHEE season, after all, and this is when the massive  TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 4: “Everything Burns” will see its long-awaited release in comic shops nationwide through Devil’s Due…

But I also have something else RHEE-ly exciting lined-up for October that should make plans of the NIGHTMARE WORLD OMNIBUS model RHEE-ly happy. Heh.

I also have a few other tricks up my sleeve that I can’t (or won’t) divulge here, but will most certainly be discussed in the monthly newsletter and/or social media.

If you’d like to connect on Social Media, rest assured you can stay in touch on pretty much all platforms by finding me under the handle @DirkManning. When in doubt, look for this just look for this guy:

Stay in touch, keep an eye on the “Signings and Appearances” tab to see where and when I’ll be popping-up in person for the rest of the year, and also consider signing up for the e-mail newsletter for monthly updates on everything in real-time!

Thanks all!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning